Thursday, June 05, 2008

A Library District? - Solves Funding Problems

Why doesn't the Library Board come before the City Council and ask to create their own Library District? Seems like they could make their own requests directly to the public taxpayer rather than going through the City Council. They could but I'll bet they won't.

Why not?

I still suspect their is more news on the situation in Indianapolis that brought our Director from the big city to a much smaller one. Maybe someone knows a reporter for the Indianapolis Star. The Star reported that a small project turned into a $100 million dollar project under the supervision of Mr. Szynaka. I'm suspicious when some one wants to spend $35 million while adding 40-50,000 sq. feet, yet claims no boost in overhead costs to the property taxpayer for 5 years?

Want to make small bet? As a member of the Peoria County Board I'm familiar with "change orders" asking for more money to cover unforeseen obstacles. Most appear to be legitimate but they boost the projected costs of project completions.

Most businesses like change orders because they are "no bid" and one could if he wanted to, charge whatever the market would bear. In my 28 years of business, I only recall two or three times that we asked for change orders. When we received the first order for the expanded Bloomington Airport furnishing, our salesman erred and sold the job at our cost. We ate the loss. Usually the price we quoted was what we were paid regardless of problems we encountered.

If this project is approved and I hope it isn't in it's entirety, someone more knowledgeable than the existing library board had better keep a sharp eye on who pays the invoices and approves the credit card expenditures.

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